Avoiding Medication Errors

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Avoiding Medication Errors...

Avoiding Medication Errors

Definition:

When a medication is administered or consumed in a manner for which it was not medically intended, either the prescribing medical professional, individual selling the drug, or the patient have committed a medication error.

How Patient's Can Avoid Medication Errors:

• Before you leave the pharmacy or medical office, ask questions about your medication from the pharmacist, doctor, nurse or search on the internet from home. Check the prescription label to assure that this is the drug you were prescribed and at the correct dosage. Make sure you can read the prescription, if not, ask for it to be printed out. Common questions include:

What are the brand and generic names of the medications?

What does it look like?

Why am I taking it?

How much should I take, and how often?

When is the best time to take it?

How long will I need to take it?

What side effects should I expect, and what should I do if they happen?

What should I do if I miss a dose?

Does this interact with my other medications or any foods?

Does this replace anything else I was taking?

Where and how do I store it?

• If you are sight-impaired, ask for assistance from your pharmacist, such as using different sizes or types of containers to help you differentiate the medicines.

• If you have a medical history that includes a chronic illness be sure to research how specific medications may positively or negatively impact your illness.

• Have your pharmacist keep a complete list in the pharmacy computer of all your medications and chronic medical conditions (include over-the-counter medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products). This can help to protect you against harmful drug interactions and duplicate medications especially when admitted to the hospital on an emergency basis. Also keep this list up-to-date at home with the appropriate dosages, frequency and pharmacy name and take it with you to your doctor's appointments.

• When purchasing over-the-counter medications, read the labels carefully as they might contain ingredients you do not want or should not take.

• Keep medications in their original containers. Many pills look alike, so by keeping them in their original containers, you will know which is which and how to take them. Be sure to check the label every time you take a dose to make sure you have the right drug. Taking medications at night in the dark may also lead to incorrect pill consumption.

• Never take someone else's medication. You don't know if it will interact with your medications, the dose may be wrong for you, or you may be allergic to it.

• Don't store medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet or in direct sunlight. Humidity, heat and light can affect a medication's potency and safety. Also store medications away from children's reach and flush them down the toilet when they expire.

• Keep medications for people separate from pet's medications or household chemicals.

• Don't chew, crush or break any capsules or tablets unless instructed. Some long-acting medications are absorbed too quickly when chewed, which could be unsafe. Other medications either won't be effective or could make you sick.

• When taking liquid medications, use only the cup or other measuring device that came with it. Also, household teaspoons and tablespoons are not very accurate, which is important with some medications. Your pharmacist may give you a special oral syringe instead.

How Healthcare Workers Can Avoid Medication Errors:

• All medication orders must be legible.

• Make sure the patient's name and medical record number are on the order sheet.

• Include the date, time, physician signature, and physician pager number on all orders.

• When possible, include the purpose of the order (e.g. for cough).

• All orders should be written in the metric system, except for therapies that use standard units

(e.g. insulin, vitamins).

• Spell out “units” rather than using “U”.

• Orders should be written in total dosage amount, rather than by volume or as a amount per weight (e.g. mg/kg).

• All medications should always include drug name, exact metric dose and concentration and dosage form.

• A leading zero should always precede a decimal expression of less than one (e.g. 0.1 mg).

• Trailing zeros should never be used (e.g. 1.0 mg vs. 10 mg).

• Use only approved abbreviations, which may be found in the front of the formulary.

• Use an order form when available.

• Patient allergies should be written on the order sheet.

• Consult with pharmacist for assistance regarding questionable orders.

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